Lonard eyes Irish Open title

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Peter Lonard said good putting was the key to his first round.Picture:Reuters

Australian Peter Lonard has his sights set on an Irish Open title, grabbing a share of the first-round lead only two days after having corrective eye surgery.

Lonard, who did not play a practice round and was in London's Moorfield Eye Hospital having work done on his right eye on Tuesday, fired an opening round eight-under-par 64 to top the field alongside compatriot Nick O'Hern.

Australians dominated the leaderboard, with Brett Rumford sharing third place with Britons Stephen Gallacher and Simon Wakefield. Dual major winner Sandy Lyle was in a group three shots off the lead, while titleholder Michael Campbell of New Zealand is six strokes back.

Lonard managed only a walk around nine holes on Wednesday night and that did not go smoothly.

"I actually walked the wrong nine to my opening nine, so I suppose I should have looked closer at the draw sheet," he said. "I've never putted like it in my life, but when it's your day, it's your day."

He said not playing a practice round would be his routine from now on.

In Evian-les-Bains, France, England's Karen Stupples shot a 66 to grab the halfway lead in the Evian Masters with 10 under par.

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She leads by one from fellow Briton Laura Davies and two-time former champion Annika Sorenstam, with